Reclining chair and control arrangement



1963 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,100,126

RECLINING CHAIR AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1960 FIG. l.

2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. FR DI/ F smz/zm Aa 1963 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE3,100,126

RECLINING CHAIR AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 1,1960 m OE IN V EN TOR. FWD TJOF F .5662 P1946 #5 BY 0 rr man/5y:

United States Patent M 3,100,126 RECLINING CHAIR AND CONTROL GEMENTFridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schrnargendorf, Germany, assignor toAnton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed Nov. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 66,500 4Claims. (Cl. 29789) The present invention relates to reclining chairs,and in particular to an improved leg-rest and seat control arrangementfor a reclining chair of the type including body-supporting means havinga seat and back-rest movably mounted on a support and a leg-restcoordinated to move to elevated leg-supporting positions in response tomovement of the body-supporting means. Advantageously, chairs accordingto the present invention are capable of attaining desirable positions ofthe body-supporting means and the leg-rest for comfortably accommodatingthe chair occupant.

The well known reclining chair includes a support, body-supporting meansmovably mounted on the support, and a leg-rest normally disposed in astored position and movable to an elevated leg-supporting positionincident to the movement of the body-supporting means. Thebodysupporting means may take the form of either a unitary or rigidbody-supporting unit, or a separate seat and separate back-rest mountedfor inclining and reclining movement respectively. The body-supportingmeans and the legrest are coordinated such that for each increment ofmovement of the body-supporting means rearwardly to various recliningpositions, there is a corresponding movement of the leg-rest toward theelevated leg-supporting position. These chairs of the single movementtype are arranged such that the leg-rest arrives at the requiredelevated leg-supporting position when the body-supporting means hasmoved to the fully reclined position. In a typical chair, the back-restis disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to the floor line in thefully reclined position of the chair, while the leg-rest swings to aposition substantially horizontal and parallel to the floor line, withthe seat either maintaining a rigid relationship to the backrest orbeing inclined such that the included angle between the seat andback-rest increases to establish an appropriate attitude for the chairoccupant for complete relaxation. As a practical matter, the leg-restshould not move substantially beyond the horizontal attitude relative tothe floor, or beyond a prescribed orientation in relation to the seat,in that the legs should be accommodated in an elevated, but slightlybent, position for optimum comfort. Thus, in a well constructed singlemovement reclining chair of conventional design, although there are manyintermediate positions between the upright or sitting position and thefully reclined position, as a practical matter the only positionappropriate for proper relaXation is the reclining position, or oneclose thereto, wherein the leg-rest is sufiiciently elevated toappropriately support the legs of the chair occupant.

Of recent times there has been developed the multiple movement recliningchair which is specifically designed to attain at least one intermediateposition in which the leg-rest is elevated. Such multiple movementchairs may be of the type incorporating a unitary back-rest and seatwherein there are first and second movement phases, the chair movingfrom a sitting position with the leg-rest stored to an intermediate,tilted sitting position with the leg-rest elevated during the firstmovement phase; and with the chair moving from the intermediate, tiltedsitting position through various reclining positions to a fully reclinedposition during the second movement phase with the leg-rest remaining inan elevated leg-supporting position. Further, such chairs may be .of thetype incor- 3,100,l26 Patented Aug. 6, 1963 porating a movable seat andmovable back-rest wherein there are first and second movement phases,with the chair moving from an upright sitting position to anintermediate, titlted sitting position during the first movement phase,with the leg-rest moving into the elevated position and withsubstantially no change in the angular relationship between the seat andback-rest; and wherein there is a second movement phase with the :chairmoving from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through a seriesof reclining posit-ions to a fully reclined position, with the leg-restremaining elevated and with an increase in the angular relationshipbetween the seat and back-rest during the second movement phase. Suchmultiple movement reclining chairs usually are relatively complicatedand expensive to construct, and require special provision to establishthe order of or sequence of operations for the mechanisms which controlthe movable components of the chair.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedreclining chair of the multiple position or multiple movement type whichis capable of attaining one or more intermediate positions in which thechair occupant is accommodated in an attitude with the legs elevated.Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention toprovide an improved seat and leg-rest control arrangement for areclining chair which enables the substantially continuous movementthrough a number of intermediate positions wherein the seat, back-restand leg-rest of the chair are optimumly positioned relative to eachother and to the chair frame or support for comfortably accommodatingthe chair occupant in attitudes appropriate for television viewing,reading, sewing or the like, and/or complete relaxation.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chairwhich comprises a support, body-supporting means including a seat andback-rest mounted on the support for inclining and reclining movementrespectively, and means for coordinating the inclining movement of theseat and the reclining movement of the back-rest to establish a firstmovement phase wherein the body-supporting means moves from a sittingposition to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and a secondmovement phase wherein a body supporting means moves firom theintermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position. Thecoordinating means or linkage includes a carrier member mounted on thesupport at a carrier pivot, a first guiding link pivotally mounted onthe support at a stationary first pivot, a second guiding link pivotallyconnected to the carrier member at a second pivotal mount, and anintermediate connecting link connecting the first and second guidinglinks. Connecting means are operatively connected between the back-restand one of the guiding links and seat control means are operativelyconnected to the seat and to one of the guid ing and intermediate links.The first guiding link, the second guiding link and the intermediateconnecting links serve as three movable links of a four-bar linkageduring the first movement phase wherein the carrier member remainssubstantially stationary, such that the portion of the chairinter-mediate the first and second pivotal mounts provides a stationarylink for the four-bar linkage. The first guiding link, [the secondguiding link, the intermediate connecting link and the carrier memberserve as four movable links of a five-bar linkage during the secondmovement phase, wherein the carrier member turns about the carrier pivotsuch that the portion or" the chair intermediate the first pivotal mountand the carrier pivot serves as a stationary link of the five-barlinkage. Advantageously, the first and second linkages whichrespectively guide the body-supporting means during the first and secondmovement phases provide for substantially no angular change between theseat and back-rest from the sitting position to the intermediate, tiltedsitting position and for an increase in the included angle therebetwcenfrom the tilted sitting position to the various reclining positions. Asa further feature of the invention, a legrest is mounted for movementfrom a stored position to various elevated leg-supporting positions andis operatively connected to the intermediate connecting link formovement from the stored position into the various elevatedleg-supporting positions in response to movement of the body-supportingmeans through the first and second movement phases.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presently preferredby nonetheless illustrative embodiment of the present invention, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair embodyingfeatures of the present invention shown with one side thereof removedand illustrated in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing thechair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing thechair in a fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a recliningchair demonstrating features of the present invention which is generallydesignated by the reference numeral and includes the support or frame 12having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by suitable crossbraces 18 and supported on depending legs.

The body-supporting means, generally designated by the reference numeral20 and including a back-rest 22 and a seat 24, is mounted on the supportfor movement from the upright or sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1through a number of intermediate, tilted sitting positions (a typicalone being illustrated in FIG. 2) into the reclining position illustratedin FIG. 3. In this illustrative embodiment, the back-rest 22 includes adepending extension 22a and is mounted on the support at a back-restpivot 26 by an appropriate bracket 28 for reclining movement. The seat24 in turn is mounted for inclining movement about a seat pivotcoaxially with the back-rest pivot 26 through the provision of anelongated rearwardly directed seat bracket 30 which is secured to theseat 24 and appropriately journaled at its rearward end at the back-restpivot 26.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 2-4 is a leg-rest 32 whichis mounted for movement from the stored or retracted positionillustrated in FIG. 1 to the elevated leg-supporting positionsillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this illustrative embodiment, theleg-rest 32 is mounted for movement from the stored or retractedposition to the elevated leg-supporting positions by a double four-barlinkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 34. The leg-restmounting linkage 34 includes a first pair of links 36, 38 having apivotal connection 40 at their adjacent ends and a second pair of links42, 44 having a pivotal connection 46 at their adjacent ends. The firstlinks 36, 42 :of the respective link pairs are pivotally mounted on thebracket 30 rigid with the seat 24 at suspending pivots 48, 50, while thesecond links 38, 44 are pivotally connected to the leg-rest 32 at spacedlocations 52, 54. The link 42 of the second link pair crosses over thelink 38 of the first link pair and is pivotally connected thereto at acoordinating pivot 56. Although one particular leg-rest mounting linkagehas been illustrated, it will be appreciated that various types ofleg-rest mounting linkages may be employed in the present chair.

Means generally designated by the reference numeral 60 are provided forcoordinating the inclining movement of the seat 24 and the recliningmovement of the backrest 22 to establish a first movement phase (compareFIGS. 1 and 2) wherein the body-supporting means or unit 20 moves from asitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position withsubstantially no angular change between the seat 24 and the back-rest 22and a second movement phase (compare FIGS. 2 and 3) from theintermediate, tilted sitting position through a series of recliningpositions to a fully reclined position during which the included anglebetween the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 increases. The coordinatingmeans or linkage 60 includes a carrier member 62 which is disposedsubstantially horizontally in the sitting position of the chair and ismounted on the support 12 at a carrier pivot 64 by an appropriatemounting bracket. Provision is made for establishing a substantiallystationary position for the carrier member 62 when in the sittingposition. In this illustrative arrangement, the stationary position isestablished by positioning the rearward end of the carrier member 62 torest against the bracket or plate of a pivotal mount for one of thefurther links of the coordinating linkage, as will subsequently bedescribed.

Disposed adjacent the rearward end of the carrier member 62 is a firstguiding link 66 which is pivotally mounted on the support 12 at astationary first pivotal mount 68 via an appropriate mounting bracket 70which abuts the under surface of the rearward end of the carrier member62 and serve as a positioning stop therefor. Extending generallyupwardly from the rearward end of the carrier member 62 is a secondguiding link 72 which is pivotally connected to the rearward end of thecarrier member 62 at a second pivotal mount or connection 74. Extendingbetween the upper ends of the first and second guiding links 66, 72 isan intermediate connecting link 76 which has a pivotal connection 78 atits upper end to the upper end of tht first guiding link 66 and apivotal connection 80 at its lower end to the upper end of the secondguiding link 72.

Provision is made for connecting one of the guiding links 66, 72 to theback-rest for actuating the coordinating linkage 60. In thisillustrative arrangement, the connecting means takes the form of aconnecting link 82 which has a pivotal connection 84 at its rearward endto a bracket 86 rigid with the depending extension 22a of the back-rest22 and a pivotal connection 88 at its forward end to the second guidinglink 72. The second guiding link 72 is also connected to the seat 24 viaa seat control link 90 which is disposed in an upwardly and forwardlyinclined position and has a pivotal connection 92 at its lower end tothe second guiding link 72 and a pivotal connection 94 at its upper endto the seat 24. The linkage is completed by the provision of a leg-restconnecting link 96 which :has a pivotal connection at its rearward endto the intermediate connecting link 76 at the pivotal connection 78between such link and the first guiding link 66 and a pivotal connection98 at its forward end to the link 36 of the leg-rest mounting link 34.

The movement of the five bar linkage which is operative during thesecond movement phase is terminated in the fully reclined position ofFIG. 3 by a stop 100 fixed to the bracket for the carrier pivot 64. Thestop 100 precludes further counterclockwise turning movement of both thecarrier member 62 and the guiding link 66.

The described coordinating means 60 may be considered to include firstand second linkages which are operative continuously during first andsecond movement phases of the chair. Specifically, during the firstmovement phase, the first guiding link 66, the second guiding link 72and the intermediate connecting link 76 serve as the three movable linksof a four-bar linkage, with the carrier member 62 remainingsubstantially stationary and with the portion of the chair intermediatethe pivotal mount 68 and the pivotal connection 74 serving as astationary link for the four-bar linkage. When the second guiding link72 reaches a substantially vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2,continued actuation initiates a second movement phase. During the secondmovement phase, during which there is an appreciable turning movement ofthe carrier member 62 about the carrier pivot 74, the first guiding link66, the second guiding link 72, the intermediate connecting link 76 andthe carrier member or link 62 serve as four movable links of a five-barlinkage, with the portion of the chair intermediate the pivotal mount 68and the carrier pivot 64 providing a stationary link for such five-barlinkage.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the presentinvention, a typical sequence of operations will now be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and leans against theback-rest 22, there is a clockwise turning movement of the back-restextension 22a and the rigid back-rest bracket 86 about the back-rest ormain pivot 26 which in turn imparts a forward thrust to the connectinglink 82. This tends to turn the second guiding link 72 in thecounterclockwise direction about the pivotal connection 74 to thecarrier member 62 serving as a relatively stationary pivotal mount. Thisin turn brings about the actuation of the four-bar linkage which iseffective during the first portion or phase of the chair movement. Inresponse to the counterclockwise turning movement of the second guidinglink 72, an appropriate control is imparted to the seat via the seatcontrol link 90. Further in response to the movement of the four-barguiding linkage, an appropriate control is also imparted via theleg-rest connecting link 96 to the leg-rest mounting linkage 34 and thusto the leg-rest 32. The leg-rest rapidly moves to an elevatedleg-supporting position, as shown in FIG. 2, while the seat 24 andback-rest 22 have inclined and reclined to establish and intermediate,titlted sitting position appropriate for television viewing and thelike, with substantially no change in the angular relationship betweenthe seat and back-rest. Although there is no distinct stop at theposition illustrated in FIG. 2 in that the coordinating linkage is of acontinuous type, it is possible'to select one intermediate, tiltedsitting position and to cause a friction device or the like to engage insuch position and to give the chair occupant the feeling of moving intoa discreet position, appropriate for television viewing and the like,with substantially no change in the angular relationship between theseat and back-rest. However, it will be appreciated that there arenumerous chair positions which occur before and after that illustratedin FIG. 2 in which the back-rest 22, the seat 24 and the leg-rest 32 areappropriately oriented relative to each other for comfortablyaccommodating the chair occupant for television viewing, sewing, readingand the like. Continued pressure against the back-rest will initiate afurther or second phase of the chair movement during which there is anappreciable turning movement of the carrier member 62 about the carrierpivot 64 and a slow down in the further inclination of the seat 24,despite the substantially uniform continuous reclining of the back-rest22. During such second movement phase, the seat 24 tends to lag in itsinclining movement in relation to the rearward and reclining movement ofthe back-rest 22 to open up or increase the angle between the seat andback-rest. The control imparted to the leg-rest during such second orfurther movement phase of the chair is such as to maintain the legrest32 in an appropriate oriented and elevated legsupporting positionrelative to the seat. In point of fact, by comparing the relativepositions of the seat 24 and the leg-rest 32 in FIGS. 2 and 3, it willbe appreciated that the leg-rest has been somewhat lowered in itsorientation relative to the seat 24 to avoid the possible tendency ofoverstraightening the legs of the chair occupant incident to the furtherelevation of the leg-rest during the latter portion of chair movement.The chair movement is terminated in the reclining position of FIG. 3when the stop 100 abuts the carrier member 62 and the guiding link 66.

When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright orsitting position, it is merely newssary to urge the weight somewhatforwardly and press against the leg-rest, whereupon the reverse sequenceof operations may be initiated, with the chair occupant moving throughthe infinite number of chair positions including the illustrativeintermediate position of FIG. 2 to the upright or sitting positionillustrated in FIG. 1.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention :herein.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a support, bodysupporting meansincluding a seat and back-rest, means mounting said seat and back-restfor inclining and reclining movement respectively, and means forcoordinating the inclining movement of said seat and the recliningmovement of said back-rest to establish a first movement phase whereinsaid body-supporting means moves from a sitting position to anintermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no angularchange between said seat and back-rest and a second movement phase fromsaid intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining positionwherein the included angle between said seat and backrest increases, thecoordinating means including a carrier member, means pivotally mountingsaid carrier member on said support at a carrier pivot, a first guidinglink, means pivotally mounting said first guiding link on said supportat a stationary first pivotal mount, a second guiding link, meanspivotally connecting said second guiding link to said carrier member ata second pivotal mount, an intermediate connecting link pivotallyconnected to said first and second guiding links, connecting meansbetween said back-rest and one of said guiding links, and seat controlmeans operatively connected to said seat and to one of said guiding andintermediate links, said first guiding link, said second guiding linkand said intermediate connecting link serving as three movable links ofa four-bar linkage during said first movement phase wherein said carriermember remains substantially stationary such that the portion of thechair intermediate said first and second pivotal mounts provides astationary link for said four-bar linkage, said first guiding link, saidsecond guiding link, said intermediate connecting link and said carriermember serving as four movable links of a five-bar linkage during saidsecond movement phase wherein said carrier member turns about saidcarrier pivot such that the portion of the chair intermediate said firstpivotal mount and said carrier pivot serves as a stationary link of saidfive-bar linkage.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting meansincluding a seat and back-rest, means including a pivot mounting saidseat and back-rest for inclining and reclining movement respectively,and means for coordinating the inclining movement or said seat and thereclining movement of said back-rest to establish a first movement phasewherein said body-supponting means moves from a sitting position to anintermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no angularchange between said seat and back-rest and a second movement phase fromsaid intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining positionwherein the included angle between said seat and back-rest increases,the coordinating means including a carrier member, means pivotallymounting said carrier member on said support at a carrier pivot, meansfor establishing a stationary position for said carrier member in saidsitting position, a first guiding link, means pivotally mounting saidfirst guiding link on said support at a stationary first pivotal mount,a second guiding link, means pivotally connecting said second guid inglink to said carrier member at a second pivotal mount, an intermediateconnecting link pivotal-1y connected tosaid first and second guidinglinks, connecting means between said back-rest and one of said guidinglinks, seat control means operatively connected to said seat and to oneof said guiding and intermediate links, said first guidink link, saidsecond guiding link and said intermediate connecting link serving asthree movable links of a fourbar linkage during said first movementphase wherein said carrier member remains substantially stationary suchthat the portion of the chair intermediate said first and second pivotalmounts provides a stationary link for said four-bar linkage, said firstguiding link, said second guiding link, said intermediate connectinglink and said carrier member serving as four movable links of a fiveabarlinkage during said second movement phase wherein said carrier memberturns about said carrier pivot such that the portion of the chairintermediate said first pivotal mount and said carrier pivot serves as astationary link of said five bar linkage, a leg-rest, means operativelyconnected to said leg-rest and mounting said leg-rest for movement froma stored position when said body-supporting means is in said sittingposition to elevated legsupponting positions when said body-supportingmeans moves into said intermediate tilted sitting position and saidreclining position respectively, and means operatively connected to saidleg-rest mounting linkage and to said intermediate connecting link formoving said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting positions duringsaid first and second movement phases.

3. A reclining chair comprising a suppont, body-supporting meansincluding a seat and back-rest, means mounting said seat and backrestfor inclining and reclining movement respectively, and means forcoordinating the inclining movement or said seat and the recliningmovement of said xback rest to establish a first movement phase whereinsaid body-supponting means moves from a sitting position to anintermediate, tilted sitting position and a second movement phasewherein said bodysupportin-g means moves from said intermediate, tiltedsitting position to la reclining position, the coordinating meansincluding a carrier member, means pivotally mounting said carrier memberon said support at a carrier pivot, a guiding link, means pivotallymounting said guiding link on said support at a stationary pivotalmount, a chain of connecting links having a first pivotal connection tosaid b ack-rest, a second pivotal connection to said carrier member, anda third pivotal connection to said guiding link, and seat control meansoperatively connected to said seat and to one of said chain ofconnecting links, the reclining movement of said back-rest during saidfirst movement phase being elfective to turn said guiding link aboutsaid stationary pivotal mount and to turn said chain of connecting linkssubstantially about said second pivotal connection serving as asubstantially stationary pivotal mount to incline said seat, thereclining movement of said back-rest during said second movement phasebeing efiective to turn said guiding link about said stationary pivotalmount and to turn said carrier member about said carrier pivot.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting meansincluding a seat and back-rest, means including a pivot mounting saidseat and back-rest for inclining and reclining movement respectively,and means for coordinating [the inclining movement of said seat and thereclining movement of said back-rest to establish a first movement phasewherein said body-supporting means moves from a sitting position to :anintermediate, tilted sitting position with substantially no angularchange between said seat and back-rest and a second movement phasewherein said body-supporting means moves from said intermediate, tiltedsitting position to a reclining position with the included angle betweensaid seat and back-rest increasing, the coordinating means including acarrier member, means pivota-lly mounting said carrier member on saidsupport at a carrier pivot, means tor establishing a stationary positionfor said carrier member in said sitting position, a guiding link, meanspivotal'ly mounting said guiding link on said support at a stationarypivotal mount, a chain of connecting links having a first pivotalconnection to said back-rest at a point spaced below said pivot, asecond pivotal connection to said carrier member, and a lthil'd pivotalconnection to said guiding link, seat control means operativelyconnected to said seat and to one of said chain of connecting links, thereclining movement of said back-rest during said first movement phasebeing effective to turn said guiding link about said stationary pivotalmount and v to turn said chain of connecting links about said secondpivotal connection serving as a substantially stationary pivotal mountto incline said seat at a rate for maintaining the substantially fixedangular relationship between said seat and backrest, the recliningmovement of said back-rest during said second movement phase beingeffective [to turn said guiding link about said stationary pivotal mountand to turn said carrier member about said carrier pivot to increase theangular relationship between said seat and back-rest, a leg-rest, meansoperatively connected to said leg-rest and mounting the same formovement from a stored position when said body-supporting means is insaid sitting position to elevated leg-supporting positions When saidbody-supporting means moves into said intermediate tilted sitting andreclining positions respectively, and means operatively connected tosaid leg-rest mounting linkage and to said coordinating means for movingsaid leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting positions during saidfirst and second movement phases.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,660,225 Luclnhardt Nov. 24, 1953 2,726,709 Lorenz Dec. 13, 19552,844,189 Lorenz July 22, 1958 2,850,078 Lorenz Sept. 2, 1958 2,918,109Sch-liephacke Dec. 22, 1959 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 2,927,629Fletcher Mar. 8, 1960 2,929,440 Schliephacke Mar. 22, 1960 2,948,330Lorenz Aug. 9, 1960

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODYSUPPORTING MEANSINCLUDING A SEAT AND BACK-REST, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SEAT AND BACK-RESTFOR INCLINING AND RECLINING MOVEMENT RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS FORCOORDINATING THE INCLINING MOVEMENT OF SAID SEAT AND THE RECLININGMOVEMENT OF SAID BACK-REST TO ESTABLISH A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE WHEREINSAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS MOVES FROM A SITTING POSITION TO ANINTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION WITH SUBSTANTIALLY NO ANGULARCHANGE BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST AND A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE FROMSAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION TO A RECLINING POSITIONWHEREIN THE INCLUDED ANGLE BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACKREST INCREASES, THECOORDINATING MEANS INCLUDING A CARRIER MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTINGSAID CARRIER MEMBER ON SAID SUPPORT AT A CARRIER PIVOT, A FIRST GUIDINGLINK, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID FIRST GUIDING LINK ON SAID SUPPORTAT A STATIONARY FIRST PIVOTAL MOUNT, A SECOND GUIDING LINK, MEANSPIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECOND GUIDING LINK TO SAID CARRIER MEMBER ATA SECOND PIVOTAL MOUNT, AN INTERMEDIATE CONNECTING LINK PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND GUIDING LINKS, CONNECTED MEANSBETWEEN SAID BACK-REST AND ONE OF SAID GUIDING LINKS, AND SEAT CONTROLMEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT AND TO ONE OF SAID GUIDING ANDINTERMEDIATE LINKS, SAID FIRST GUIDING LINK, SAID SECOND GUIDING LINKAND SAID INTERMEDIATE CONNECTING LINK SERVING AS THREE MOVABLE LINKS OFA FOUR-BAR LINKAGE DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE WHEREIN SAID CARRIERMEMBER REMAINS SUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY SUCH THAT THE PORTION OF THECHAIR INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND PIVOTAL MOUNTS PROVIDES ASTATIONARY LINK FOR SAID FOUR-BAR LINKAGE, SAID FIRST GUIDING LINK, SAIDSECOND GUIDING LINK, SAID INTERMEDIATE CONNECTING LINK AND SAID CARRIERMEMBER SERVING AS FOUR MOVABLE LINKS OF A FIVE-BAR LINKAGE DURING SAIDSECOND MOVEMENT PHASE WHEREIN SAID CARRIER MEMBER TURNS ABOUT SAIDCARRIER PIVOT SUCH THAT THE PORTION OF THE CHAIR INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRSTPIVOTAL MOUNT AND SAID CARRIER PIVOT SERVES AS A STATIONARY LINK OF SAIDFIVE-BAR LINKAGE.